Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutanimals #4 (IDW Publishing)

Hob and his new recruits rush to stop Mutagen Man from sacrificing himself to strike a blow against the Null Corporation. This results not only in a gripping standoff, but maybe Old Hob’s best scene in his entire IDW existence…

…until later in the issue, when he lays a verbal beat down on Null herself. Meanwhile, his team engages in one hell of a firefight while Lindsey has quite a moment of her own.

Is It Good?

Sorry for the short recap, but I’d prefer not to spoil too much of the story (sorry about the first time, Paul). This is such a great issue that it deserves to be experienced completely fresh. TMNT: Mutanimals #4 ends exactly the way a miniseries like this should: Tons of action, a solid resolution, and the characters doing things that are unexpected from a status quo/trope perspective, but completely organic with how they were written.

It’s also the most exciting chapter in the series. It’s a given that Andy Kuhn is going to draw great action, but the tension Allor creates during the simultaneous conflicts makes them that much better. Any writer who can make you feel emotionally invested in Pidgeon Pete and Mutagen Man is definitely doing something right.

Mutanimals #4 also keeps the signature balance of drama/humor we’ve been getting (once again, Pete unexpectedly steals the show). But my favorite part of the series is the character study it gave us of Old Hob. Much like what Allor/Kuhn did with Krang in Utrom Empire, Hob is so well explored and fleshed out that you find yourself genuinely rooting for and sympathizing with him.

Pulling all this together is how Mutanimal’s massive cast manages to maintain such great chemistry. Aside from Mondo Gecko’s bizarre fear of Slash, all the character interactions are all uniquely good. Lindsey’s big scene in particular shows equal parts humanity and evil in a way that most writers would struggle to balance.

Once again, this creative team has delivered a definitive, highly enjoyable exploration of another segment from the TMNT mythos.

Mutanimal’s #4 ends exactly the way a miniseries like this should: Tons of action, a solid resolution, and the characters doing things that are unexpected from a status quo/trope perspective, but completely organic with how they were writtenIt’s a given that Andy Kuhn is going to draw great action, but the tension Allor creates during the simultaneous conflicts makes them that much better. Any writer who can make you feel emotionally invested in Pidgeon Pete and Mutagen Man is definitely doing something right.Both Old Hob and Lindsey have some incredibly cool (and revealing) moments.